Chu: Ethanol not the best biofuel

Energy Secretary Steven Chu made a pitch today for using biomass to make synthetic versions of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel rather than ethanol. “Ethanol is not an ideal transportation fuel,” Chu said during a question-and-answer session at the National Press Club. Chu said synthetic fuels don’t require the specialized infrastructure, such as pumps and pipelines, that are needed for ethanol.

Chu side-stepped a question about the expiring 45-cent-per-gallon subsidy for corn-based ethanol. He said that corn ethanol helped show that is a “Americans can drive their vehicles using agriculturally based fuels, but we are primarily focused on developing the new technologies that can supercede ethanol made from starches,” Chu said.

The ethanol industry has been pushing for federal incentives for ethanol pipelines and pumps, arguing that the “drop-in” fuels that Chu is talking about are many years away from being commercialized.

UPDATE: After this post went up, Chu’s press office issued a statement that said in part: “He was explaining the work of Department of Energy, which includes developing technology for the next generation of biofuels – just like we are developing the next generation of solar cells, wind turbines, nuclear reactors, clean coal plants, automobile batteries and other key clean energy technologies.”

Chu’s comments came as many environmental groups and food industry interests are mobilizing to prevent the 45-cent ethanol tax credit from being extended. Allowing the subsidy to expire “will help control deficit spending without in any way hindering the development of advanced biofuels, which can help us meet our energy, environmental and food security needs in a fiscally responsible manner,” the groups say in a letter to congressional leaders.